Brick + Board in Baltimore: Contractor-Grade Lumber and Millwork for Custom Projects

Brick + Board is an independent building materials supplier located in Baltimore that stocks dimensional lumber, hardwood flooring, trim, and millwork alongside standard construction fasteners and supplies. Unlike big-box retailers, it functions as a specialty source for contractors, architects, and homeowners pursuing custom or period-appropriate finishes rather than stock options.

What Brick + Board actually is

The shop carries a focused inventory built around solid wood products rather than trying to stock everything. You'll find rough-sawn and finished dimensional lumber in multiple species, hardwood flooring in species like white oak and walnut, custom millwork services, and specialty trim profiles. The customer base skews toward remodelers, finish carpenters, and homeowners on historic homes or high-end projects where material choice matters visually and structurally. This is not a place to grab drywall and nails for a weekend patch; it's where you go when you need red oak flooring or paint-grade poplar trim in widths and lengths the big box doesn't carry.

Lumber, flooring, and millwork pricing and services

Pricing varies sharply by species and grade. Standard dimensional lumber (2x4s, 2x8s in pine or fir) runs $8 to $15 per linear foot depending on grade and current supply. Hardwood flooring starts around $4 to $6 per square foot for unfinished domestic species and climbs to $12 and beyond for imported or specialty woods. Custom millwork (crown molding, baseboards, chair rail in wood species of your choice) is quoted per linear foot based on profile complexity and material; ballpark $3 to $8 per running foot for standard profiles, more for custom routing. The shop offers custom milling services, meaning you can request a non-standard profile or have lumber planed to your specs. Custom work requires lead time; confirm turnaround with the shop, as it depends on current job queue.

How it compares to other Baltimore building suppliers

Baltimore's building materials landscape is split between national chains and a handful of specialty yards. Home Depot and Lowe's dominate volume and price for commodity lumber and basics, but inventory is limited to standard dimensions and grades; neither stocks hardwood flooring or millwork services. Mendel Lumber, located in Dundalk, operates a similar specialty model with a focus on contractors and offers hardwood, millwork, and live sawing services; choose Mendel if you're in Northeast Baltimore and value in-person consultation with sawyers. Brick + Board's position is stronger for walk-in availability of hardwood species and trim profiles without lead time, and for projects requiring local delivery or material hand-selection. The tradeoff is that prices are higher than big-box suppliers and selection doesn't match a large regional distributor on volume products.

Who it suits and who it does not

Brick + Board works for interior renovation projects where wood type, grain, and finish matter: hardwood floor restoration, custom cabinetry, built-in shelving, trim upgrades. It's the right choice if you're matching existing woodwork in a 1920s Hampden rowhouse or if your contractor has specified a particular species or milling profile. It does not suit new construction projects requiring hundreds of 2x4s at the lowest price, concrete forming, or jobs where you're buying primarily by volume. It also doesn't work for you if you need a full-service lumberyard with heavy equipment rental, delivered loads of dimensional lumber, or one-stop shopping for drywall, plumbing, and electrical.

What the first visit involves

Walk in with a material list or photo of what you're trying to match. Bring samples if you have them (existing flooring, trim). Staff will help you identify matching species, grade, and availability. If you need custom milling, expect a conversation about profile details, lead time, and pricing; bring a drawing or sketch. You can buy in small quantities (single boards, partial bundles), so testing a small section before committing to a whole floor or wall is straightforward. Payment is typically cash or card; confirm return and exchange policy for custom orders upfront.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Verify hours by phone before visiting, as independent lumber yards sometimes adjust seasonally. Parking is typically on-site or street parking depending on location. The shop accepts custom delivery for large orders; confirm delivery radius and minimum order. For material selection or large purchases, calling ahead to confirm stock availability saves a wasted trip, especially for hardwood species or specific millwork profiles.

Brick + Board fills a gap between the commodity builders' supply chain and high-end architectural millwork suppliers, making it essential for Baltimore homeowners and contractors who need specificity and availability without a six-week lead time.